Spreader plate load distribution

ABSTRACT

A seating assembly includes a seat having a seat frame. The seat generally defines a seating surface. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat. A carrier is disposed on the seat frame and supports a multi-contour seating component that is adjustable to change a contour of the seating surface. A cushion assembly is disposed over the multi-contour seating component of the seat and is in communication with a climate control system. A spreader plate is disposed below the cushion assembly. The spreader plate is configured to balance load distribution across the seating surface when the multi-contour seating component is activated. The spreader plate includes flex recesses defined in forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate. Lateral flex breaks allow limited flexure of the spreader plate. An inner opening is in communication with the climate control system.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a seating assembly, and more particularly to a spreader plate load distribution for a seating assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Seating assemblies typically include a seatback to support a back of an occupant in an upright sitting position and various reclined positions. Similar to other portions of a seating assembly, seatbacks are commonly designed to support an occupant in the upright sitting position upon acceleration, change in direction, and collision of the vehicle. Accordingly, seatbacks are substantially rigid and sizeable in construction.

Traditional vehicle seating has frequently included a seat frame that supports a matrix of springs that support a thick cushion thereon. Newer constructions having climate control features add to the bulk. These constructions are generally very thick and heavy, which result in decreased interior space in a vehicle, as well as loss of fuel efficiency as a result of the added weight of the seating system.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly includes a seating assembly having a seat including a seat frame. The seat generally defines a seating surface. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat. A carrier is disposed on the seat frame and supports a multi-contour seating component that is adjustable to change a contour of the seating surface. A cushion assembly is disposed over the multi-contour seating component of the seat and is in communication with a climate control system. A spreader plate is disposed below the cushion assembly. The spreader plate is configured to balance load distribution across the seating surface when the multi-contour seating component is activated. The spreader plate includes flex recesses defined in forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate. Lateral flex breaks allow limited flexure of the spreader plate. An inner opening is in communication with the climate control system.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly includes a seat. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat. An inflatable bladder is disposed within the seat. A cushion assembly is disposed over the inflatable bladder and includes a climate control system. A spreader plate is disposed on the inflatable bladder. The spreader plate includes lateral flex breaks that allow limited flexure of the spreader plate. An inner opening allows the climate control system to move air through the cushion assembly.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly includes a seatback pivotally coupled with a seat. A cushion assembly is disposed over an inflatable bladder of the seat. A spreader plate is disposed below the cushion assembly. The spreader plate includes flex recesses defined in forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate. Lateral flex breaks allow limited flexure of the spreader plate. An inner air-flow opening is provided.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a seating assembly of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of the seating assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded top perspective view of one embodiment of a seat of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a seat of the present disclosure with a spreader plate disposed thereon;

FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of a spreader plate of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational cross-sectional view of a seat of the seating assembly of the present disclosure, taken at line V of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Referring to the embodiment generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, reference numeral 10 generally designates a seating assembly including a seat 12 supported on a seat frame 14. The seat 12 generally defines a seating surface 16. A seatback 18 is pivotally coupled with the seat 12. A carrier 20 is disposed on the seat frame 14 and supports a multi-contour seating component 22 that is adjustable to change a contour of the seating surface 16. A cushion assembly 24 is disposed over the multi-contour seating component 22 of the seat 12 and is in communication with a climate control system 26. A spreader plate 30 is disposed below the cushion assembly 24. The spreader plate 30 is configured to balance load distribution across the seating surface 16 when the multi-contour seating component 22 is activated. The spreader plate 30 includes flex recesses 32, 33 defined in forward and rearward walls 34, 36 of the spreader plate 30. Lateral flex breaks 40 allow limited flexure of the spreader plate 30. An inner opening 42 provides fluid communication between the climate control system 26 and the cushion assembly 24.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the seating assembly 10 may be used in any vehicle 50, such as a car, a truck, a van, etc. It is also contemplated that the concept set forth in this disclosure may be utilized in a front or forward position of the vehicle 50 as well as a rear or rearward position of the vehicle 50. The seating assembly 10, as illustrated, includes a seat base 52 that is positioned on rail slides 54 to allow fore and aft movement of the seating assembly 10 relative to the vehicle 50. The seat 12 is operably coupled with the seat base 52 and is movable relative thereto, as set forth in further detail below. In addition, the seatback 18 of the seating assembly 10 includes a lower lumbar region 56 and an upper thoracic region 58 as well as a head restraint 59. Each of the components of the seatback 18 may be configured for adjustability to properly support the weight of various occupants inside the vehicle 50.

With reference now to FIG. 3, the seating assembly 10 includes a variety of user enabled functions that provide both comfort and climate control to the seat 12. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the seat 12 includes the climate control system 26 having an air movement aperture that extends through an intermediate portion of the seat 12. In addition, the seat 12 includes independently movable front thigh supports 60, 62 that provide individual support to the left and right legs of an occupant. In addition, the seating assembly 10 includes bolster supports 64 that help cradle the legs of the occupant, and also includes a variety of tilt adjustments, as well as fore and aft adjustments and vertical adjustments to accommodate occupants of different sizes and statures. A generally permeable cushion assembly 66 is disposed over the carrier 20, and a trim stock 68 is disposed over the cushion assembly 24. It will be understood that the cushion assembly 24 is configured to be operably coupled with the trim stock 68. In addition, it will be understood that the trim stock 68 may include a variety of materials, including leather, fabric, etc.

With reference again to FIG. 3, the multi-contour eating component 22 includes an inflatable bladder system 70 that is operable between inflated and deflated conditions. The bladder system 70 is disposed below the spreader plate 30. The spreader plate 30 is generally configured to balance load distribution attributed to the weight of the occupant while still meeting H-point and comfort desirabilities when the occupant is seated. More specifically, the spreader plate 30 prevents or minimizes concentrated support during activation of a seat support bladder or bladder based massage system. The spreader plate 30 is configured to work with the entire system as a whole, and therefore does not minimize the functionality of any other system, for example, the climate control system 26 or the independently movable front thigh supports 60, 62, from working properly.

Traditional seating assemblies, and some vehicle seating assemblies, have lacked distributed cushion support for seat adjustment systems such as bladder based massage systems. In some instances, when an occupant activates the bladder system 70, the bladder system 70 creates a crowning effect, resulting in the occupant feeling an excessive amount of support or pressure in only one area of the seat 12. The seating assembly 10, as set forth herein, and particularly, the spreader plate 30, as set forth herein, generally defines a distributed massage load enabler that provides more support that is less concentrated on the buttocks or posterior of the body, but still meets H-point and comfort target desirabilities for a wide range of occupants of various heights and weights.

The bladder system 70 of the seating assembly 10, includes one or more inflatable bladders 82 that are mounted on a seat suspension 80. The inflatable bladders 82 are generally disposed below the polymeric spreader plate 30. The spreader plate 30 contains features that allow for maximum flexibility while maintaining H-point compliance and enhancing comfort to the occupant. At the same time, the spreader plate 30 allows for bladder support loads to be more evenly distributed to the surface of the cushion assembly 24 when the inflatable bladders 82 are in an inflated condition. The features of the spreader plate 30, as well as the thickness of the spreader plate 30, are generally designed to balance the load distribution optimally. Moreover, the spreader plate 30 includes attachment features 84 that couple the multi-contour seating component 22 and more specifically, the spreader plate 30 with the bladder system 70, thereby maintaining modularity of the seating assembly 10 as a whole.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 4A, the spreader plate 30 includes front and rear flex breaks 90 that extend from the flex recesses 32, 33 defined in the forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate 30. The front and rear flex breaks 90 work, in conjunction with the lateral flex breaks 40, to allow limited movement of the cushion assembly 24 in upward and downward directions as the multi-contour seating component 22 is actuated. Accordingly, the spreader plate 30 does not act in a completely rigid condition, but rather dissipates focused “bulging” that can occur with traditional bladder systems. In addition, it should be noted that the spreader plate 30 is constructed from a polymeric material that allows for limited and controlled flexure of the spreader plate 30 as the multi-contour seating component 22 moves between activated and deactivated conditions. Because of the attachment features 84 that couple the bladder system 70 with the spreader plate 30, the spreader plate 30 can maintain a generally aligned condition within the seating assembly 10. The inner opening 42 of the spreader plate 30 is generally configured to allow for fluid communication of the climate control system 26 with the cushion assembly 24 of the seating assembly 10. Consequently, the climate control system 26 is configured to draw air through the inner opening 42 of the spreader plate 30 from the seating surface 16 of the seating assembly 10. Alternatively, the climate control system 26 may also blow air from the climate control system 26 through the inner opening 42 of the spreader plate 30, and ultimately through the cushion assembly 24 to the posterior of an occupant. As previously noted, it is generally contemplated that the multi-contour seating component 22 may include static controls that allow for limited movement of the seating surface 16 of the seating assembly 10 to raise and lower, via the bladders 84. The controls also may allow for rhythmic movement of the bladders 84 within the seating assembly 10 to massage an occupant.

With reference again to FIGS. 4 and 4A, the front flex recess 32 of the spreader plate 30 is generally elongate and narrow. The rear flex recess 33 is shallower than the front flex recess 32. In addition, as generally illustrated, each of the sides of the spreader plate 30 do not include flex recesses, but do include the lateral flex breaks 40. It is generally understood that the lateral flex breaks 40 may also be in communication with a flex recess, as illustrated in forward and rearward walls 34, 36 of the spreader plate 30. Additionally, the spreader plate 30 includes rounded corners 110, that are configured to minimize the possibility of damage associated with activation and deactivation of the multi-contour seating component 22 when the seating assembly 10 is being adjusted.

With reference now to FIG. 5, the spreader plate 30 is generally illustrated within the cross-section of the seating assembly 10. The spreader plate 10 takes minimal space from the seating assembly 10, yet significantly impacts the overall comfort of the seating assembly 10. The seating assembly 10, as set forth herein, provides optimal comfort to an occupant in a traditional seat or a vehicle seat and minimizes excessive point loading or crowning that is felt within the seating assembly 10 by an occupant when the multi-contour seating component 22 is activated.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seating assembly comprising: a seat including a seat frame, the seat generally defining a seating surface; a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat; a carrier disposed on the seat frame and supporting a multi-contour seating component that is adjustable to change a contour of the seating surface; a cushion assembly disposed over the multi-contour seating component of the seat and in communication with a climate control system; and a spreader plate disposed below the cushion assembly, the spreader plate configured to balance load distribution across the seating surface when the multi-contour seating component is activated, the spreader plate comprising: flex recesses defined in forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate; lateral flex breaks that allow limited flexure of the spreader plate; and an inner opening in communication with the climate control system.
 2. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising: front and rear flex breaks extending from the flex recesses.
 3. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the spreader plate is constructed from a polymeric material.
 4. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising: attachment features disposed on the spreader plate and configured to engage the multi-contour seating component.
 5. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the climate control system draws air from the seating surface through the inner opening of a spreader plate.
 6. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the multi-contour seating component further includes massage bladders configured to massage a posterior of an occupant.
 7. A seating assembly comprising: a seat; a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat; an inflatable bladder disposed within the seat; a cushion assembly disposed over the inflatable bladder and including a climate control system; and a spreader plate disposed on the inflatable bladder, the spreader plate comprising: lateral flex breaks that allow limited flexure of the spreader plate; and an inner opening through which the climate control system moves air through the cushion assembly.
 8. The seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising: flex recesses defined in forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate.
 9. The seating assembly of claim 8, wherein front and rear flex recesses extend from the flex recesses.
 10. The seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the spreader plate is constructed from a polymeric material.
 11. The seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising: attachment features disposed on the spreader plate and configured to secure the spreader plate within the seating assembly.
 12. The seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the climate control system draws air from a seating surface through the inner opening of the spreader plate.
 13. The seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the inflatable bladder includes massage bladders configured to massage a posterior of an occupant.
 14. A seating assembly comprising: a seatback pivotally coupled with a seat; a cushion assembly disposed over an inflatable bladder of the seat; and a spreader plate disposed below the cushion assembly, the spreader plate comprising: flex recesses defined in forward and rearward walls of the spreader plate; lateral flex breaks that allow limited flexure of the spreader plate; and an inner air-flow opening.
 15. The seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the inner air-flow opening is operably coupled with a climate control system of the seat.
 16. The seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the climate control system draws air from a seating surface through the inner opening of the spreader plate.
 17. The seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the spreader plate is constructed from a polymeric material.
 18. The seating assembly of claim 14, further comprising: attachment features disposed on the spreader plate and configured to secure the spreader plate within the seating assembly.
 19. The seating assembly of claim 14, further comprising: front and rear flex recesses extending from the flex recesses.
 20. The seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the inflatable bladder includes massage bladders configured to massage a posterior of an occupant. 